CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Trump administration has selected former Texas Governor Rick Perry as Energy Secretary, passing over U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who was one of three finalists.
I hope all Americans join me in working w/ Pres-elect Trump to bring our country together & make it successful MORE: https://t.co/S3RaW57sNW
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) December 13, 2016
Manchin released a statement this morning, saying he was honored to have been considered but that he believes he can best serve West Virginia in the U.S. Senate.
” I was humbled to be considered for the Secretary of Energy position. I have dedicated my life in public service to doing what is best for the people of West Virginia. Right now, I believe that I can best serve my state of West Virginia in the United States Senate.”
Manchin added, “I hope all Americans join me in working with President-elect Trump in a bipartisan way to bring our country together and make it successful. I am committed to working with President Trump and his Administration to find commonsense solutions to pass the Miners Protection Act, solve our opioid crisis, rebuild our infrastructure, reform our broken tax code, keep faith with our veterans and build an economy that works for all Americans.”
As recently as Monday evening, The Washington Post was reporting that U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., remained a finalist for Energy Secretary.
Manchin met with Trump Monday afternoon after twice having interviews postponed because of the Capitol Hill fight over union miners’ health benefits.
Trump’s final three candidates for Energy Secretary included Perry, Manchin and Texas businessman Ray Washburne, according to The Post, which cited anonymous insiders.
The Post reported, “Manchin, who arrived at Trump Tower Monday afternoon to meet with the president-elect, told reporters afterward, ‘We had a good conversation,” but did not elaborate beyond that.”
Some news outlets were reporting early in the process that Perry was the leading candidate.
Last week, as Manchin was at the center of a congressional battle over union miners’ health benefits, he twice had to agree to postpone in-person conversations with Trump but shared a 15- to 20-minute phone conversation with the president-elect.
“He basically called and we talked, and he said ‘I’ve heard you are a very centrist senator,’” Manchin said. “And when all was said and done he said I look forward to talking to you more.”
During a followup call from Reince Priebus, former chairman of the Republican National Committee who has been selected as Trump’s chief of staff, Manchin said no specific position in Trump’s cabinet was discussed.
“I think a lot of this is just speculation,” Manchin said.
Last week, the West Virginia Republican Party issued a statement opposing Manchin’s selection as Energy Secretary.
“While Republicans in West Virginia appreciate President-elect Donald Trump’s desire for a diverse cabinet and his understanding of the need for bipartisanship, we in the strongest possible terms encourage him to choose a true conservative who has never sold out our energy industries and working families to the Obama-Clinton Team,” the statement said.